July 1, 2025
In this article, we’re talking about strategy and implementation and which firms do what – a topic that often creates confusion in the consulting world.
The What
Strategy is the what of consulting.
It focuses on the WHAT to do and WHY, answering questions like:
- What business are we acquiring?
- What business model are we adopting?
- How should we change our marketing?
These are often shorter term sprints that take a few weeks, if not months, to figure out what is going to be done.
Strategy engagements are typically shorter term, lasting weeks or months.
The How
Implementation is the how.
It tackles HOW to do it and WHEN, addressing questions like:
- How are we going to integrate this new business?
- How we roll out this business model?
- How we roll out a new product?
Implementation engagements are usually months, if not years, to achieve what is designed in the strategy phase.
These are typically longer term engagements spanning months or years.
Firm Reality
You might have heard the terms MBB, which stands for McKinsey, Bain, and Boston Consulting Group.
Those are typically known as your strategy group, but they also do implementation.
Then you have your big four:
- Deloitte
- PwC
- KPMG
- EY
Those firms also do strategy.
I think this tension between the strategy and the implementation firms isn’t really accurate because most firms do everything.
Sometimes there is tension between the pie in the sky strategic plan and the on the ground implementation, but it’s really not a big issue for seasoned consultants.
Conclusion
Here’s the reality: the tension between strategy and implementation firms isn’t really accurate because most firms do everything.
Sometimes there is tension between the pie in the sky strategic plan and the on the ground implementation, but it’s really not a big issue for seasoned consultants.
The strongest firms are able to handle any consulting engagement from ideation all the way through execution.
Whether you’re figuring out the WHAT and WHY in a few weeks, or spending months executing the HOW and WHEN, top consulting firms bridge both worlds seamlessly.
Strategy is the what, implementation is the how, and most firms do everything.
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